Each of us follows them, standing just outside the circle and watching them set to work. When the contents of the jar are gone and the circle is complete, a small shockwave of white light shoots upward toward the sky like a cylinder of protection.
“Remember, focus on Lyle’s physical being. Not who he was as a person,” Diana says. “That should help you differentiate the two. You don’t want to provoke his Lemure any more than necessary.”
Colton’s eyes widen, and he takes a deep breath. “You can say that again.”
Nodding to herself, Diana takes a step back, with Blake by her side. Her perceptive gaze takes in everything as she sweeps it over the entire scene. It’s almost as if she’s playing a large game of chess and we’re all the game pieces.
In some ways, there’s a sense of security in it. I know that with her psychic powers and Colton’s biomancy, together we’ll find my dad.
A hushed reverence descends through the group of us as Colton lowers his head in concentration. With his hands outstretched to the photo, he begins speaking in a low chant.
Collectively, we hold our breath as he does his thing. At first, it doesn’t look like anything is happening, but then white, whispy energy erupts from the palms of his hands. It wraps around the picture frame, sweeping across it the way incense smoke rolls around the objects near it.
“What are you getting?” Cat asks, narrowing her gaze.
Colton shakes his head. “I’m not—it’s like it’s not connecting to it. The energy is too scattered. There are too many people in this photo.”
A sickening feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. I totally jinxed it with my thoughts.
“Well, what about sending Autumn in?” Dominic says.
With the exception of Diana, everyone turns to face him with the same question written across their faces. Why?
Dominic looks at us as if it’s completely obvious. “Did any of you pay attention to what Autumn said?”
Clearly amused, a slow smirk slides across Diana’s features.
When no one replies, Dominic huffs, raising a hand out in front of him. “She said we need something tied to him, or that shares his likeness. Well, I don’t know about you, but you don’t get much more tied to someone than being their kid.”
One by one, they turn to face me.
“Plus, she does kinda share his likeness,” Cat says, raising her eyebrows in approval.
“She’s practically the spitting image,” Mrs. Gilbert chuckles.
I turn to face Diana, hoping to get her consensus. “Will this work?” I ask.
Something hides in the depths of her eyes, but she tips her head. “It would stand to reason.”
“But you can’t tell?” I say, making a face.
“When the works of gods are involved, even the best psychics in the world will have their limitations. The Moirai, while not gods specifically, have powers many gods have fought over. I find it’s best to tread lightly and hope that fate favors the attempts,” she says, accentuating the final words.
Casting a quick glance at Wade, I drop his hand and walk over to the circle.
Colton brings his hands into prayer position in front of his chest, then tips them forward at the wrist so his fingertips face me. As he pulls his hands apart, the energy of the cylinder of light separates like curtains being drawn back.
Stepping gingerly over the salt, I walk to him. Shifting the photo to the side, I kneel down in front of Colton, taking the photo’s place.
“This won’t hurt her, will it?” Wade asks. I look up to his worried expression.
Diana shakes her head. “It shouldn’t. He’s just using her connection to her dad like a scrying tool. Their DNA is linked.”
Wade nods, scrunching his lips tight.
Turning back to Colton, I take a deep breath. “What do you need me to do?”
He extends his hands, palms upward. I stare at them for a moment, then slowly reach out, placing my hands in his. As soon as our skin comes into contact, the blue and orange flames erupt. They begin at the place of contact, and spread up my arms.
“Holy shit,” Dominic mutters.
Ignoring their mutterings, I close my eyes, not wanting to see the look on Wade’s face. Colton’s hands tighten around mine and he begins to chant again.
While there’s no pain from the fire, there’s a deep sense of movement inside me, like he’s summoning the very coding in my blood to do his bidding. Shuddering at the thought, I open my eyes to see if it’s working.
Colton’s head is no longer bent forward, but, instead, raised back up. Just like at the manor, his eyes glow a brilliant, bright white as he stares straight through me.
After a moment, he speaks. His voice has an odd, echoing quality that makes me shiver.
“He’s not far. Just beyond the trees,” Colton says. Raising his right arm, he points back toward the general direction of my house.
“Can you see his body?” Diana asks.
“Yes,” Colton says. “He’s on the ley lines, just beyond the ridge.”
My insides constrict and I feel queasy. I knew we needed to find his body, but to know it’s really there is something totally different.
“Hold up. Are you saying his body is back on the Blackwood property?” Dominic interjects. There’s an edge of panic hidden in his tone.
“Yes,” Colton repeats.
“Shit,” Dominic curses.
Suddenly, the glow in Colton’s eyes dims, and he pulls back from whatever sight the spell or his power itself has given him. He blinks the remnants of it away, and his deep-brown eyes take me in.
“I’m so sorry, Autumn,” he whispers.
My lips press into a thin line, and I drop my gaze to our connected hands. Pulling back my hands from his, the blue and orange fire extinguishes in a puff. Before I stand up, I chance a sideways glance at Wade. He quickly tries
